Destruction of The Indies: Bartolome de Las Casas.

In recent discussions of the destruction of the Indies, a controversial issue has been whether the Spaniards treatment towards the Indians was right or was it cruel and inhuman. On the one hand, some argue that the Spaniards were unreasonable and the Indians did nothing to deserve such cruelty. From this perspective, the Indians were kind, gentle, and loyal workers. They did nothing but approach the Spanish with respect. On the other hand however, others argue that the Indians deserved what they got, torment. In words of one of this views main proponents," .... they might expel the Spaniards out of their country, and immediately took up arms." According to this view, the Indians are seen as violent people, and they began the cruelty. In sum, then, the issue is whether the Indians deserved their treatment or was it unnecessary.

My own view is that the cruel treatment given to the Indians was an action they took as a response to their need for power, and greed. Though I concede that the Spaniards thought that their actions were right, I still maintain that the Indians were treated unfairly. Although some might object that the Spaniards did what they thought was the correct choice for them, I reply that they only took this approach to gain power and satisfy their needs. The issue is important because by one decision many lives were lost, and it changed history for the worst.